Obama to award Medal of Honor for valor in Afghanistan

Jan. 13, 2013
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The Medal of Honor / L. Todd Spencer, AP

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

by David Jackson, USA TODAY

President Obama will award a Medal of Honor to an Army staff sergeant who helped beat back one of the largest attacks on U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Clinton Romesha, 31, will the fourth living servicemember to receive the nation's highest military award for valor in Afghanistan or Iraq; seven others who served in those wars have received the Medal of Honor posthumously.

The ceremony is Feb. 11.

After meeting Friday with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, Obama said that "in this war, more than 2000 of America's sons and daughters have given their lives. These are patriots that we honor today, tomorrow, and forever. ... Next month I will present our nation's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, to Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha for his heroic service in Afghanistan."

"Eight American soldiers were killed and two dozen others wounded in the battle as the troop-sized element fought against an overwhelming enemy force that launched a brazen attack to overrun the (combat team). ...

"The attack on COP Keating remains one of the deadliest attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan and is chronicled in the book 'The Outpost' by Jake Tapper. ...

"In 'The Outpost,' Tapper outlines Romesha's unwavering courage and determination as the vastly outnumbered American troops and their Latvian partners battled an enemy force numbering more than 300."